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Far from Perfect Hodgepodge…

1. What is one area of your life where you’re a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

Cleaning. Now, I don’t want you to get the wrong idea with this answer. My house is NOT that house that is always spic and span and where you can see vacuum trails and everything sparkles and you can smell cleaning solutions and you are afraid to sit down for fear of messing something up. But…when I do finally decide to clean an area of my home I go for every corner and nook and cranny and behind and under. That’s when I can announce that it’s clean! This is a photo of me getting ready to wash the floors on my hands and knees. Perfection??

Knee pads. Three pocket apron where I like to keep glass cleaning rags in one side and on the opposite side non glass cleaning rags. Never mix chlorine and ammonia as in bleach cleaners and window cleaners! Middle pocket I use for trash and other things I pick up along the way.

The hard side of what I define as clean is when we rent a place to stay and someone says it’s clean and I can see dust bunnies and all other kinds of things that are not clean. I get miffed especially when they add in a $200 cleaning deposit!

Last but not least I want to say I enjoy a cozy home, it does not have to be perfectly cleaned, unless I’m paying for it to be clean.

2. What’s something you find perfectly ridiculous?

Older women in leggings without their bum covered with a long top.

3. What’s a skill you’ve developed by way of that old fashioned saying, ‘practice makes perfect?

Being able to put a meal together that’s edible in a flash or over the course of a day with whatever is in the pantry or refrigerator or with all the special ingredients shopped for ahead of time. In other words, we can eat like common folk or like kings and queens at this old house because of much trial and error and success in the kitchen. There’s very little fear in my kitchen today except for my latest conquests that involve waiting for yeast to rise!

Growing up and into my adulthood before I was married my mother made every meal including school lunches for her 8 children. Her love language was putting food in front of us. Kids in our Russian culture stayed home until they got married. I did not cook or bake or do anything (maybe I made cookies) in my mother’s kitchen growing up. When I got married is when it was all on me. This wasn’t as bad as it sounds because I did learn from watching my mother that many great things are possible in the kitchen with limited resources. I should mention my major in college was Home Economics and I learned a lot in those school years.

4. What’s your idea of a perfect breakfast?

Something savory with a little something sweet, too.

5. What’s a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you’ve taken that you’d rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

Any trip we’ve taken to Great Britain ranks a perfect 10 in my book. Why? The history, the architecture, the pubs, the Full English Breakfasts, the scenery, the museums, the cathedrals, the Bed and Breakfast establishments, the villages, cobblestones, castles, Austen, Tolkien, Sayers, Lewis. Should I go on? Long live the Queen!

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can’t do perfect, how about one that comes close?

“Practically Perfect in Every Way” I think this quote can cover most anything because of the practically part! I don’t expect perfection on this earth. I’m looking forward to perfection when I see Jesus face to face.

Philippians 3:12-14 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.

7. How would you spend $300 today?

On baby equipment that a granny/baba would find useful to have in her home. If you have any suggestions let me know. What have you found useful? I’m thinking of looking at garage sales for some of this kind of stuff.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

March is an exciting month for our family. Our little Addy will be making her debut before the month is over. Our son and daughter-in-law will be a daddy and mommy for the first time. Our daughter and son-in-law celebrate 6 years of marriage. I’ll be a year older very soon and I intend to celebrate all month long. Spring arrives in March! Can I hear an amen!? Spring flowers will be popping up all over.

Thank you Joyce From This Side of the Pond for asking the questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Click over to join in the fun.

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19 thoughts on “Far from Perfect Hodgepodge…”

Regarding #7: a pack ‘n play (playpen/crib that easily folds up for storage when the babies are not with you); a wood restaurant-style high chair that scoots up under the table (it has no tray). I found mine at a restaurant supply store. When the kids don’t need it, it makes a good plant stand because it’s made of wood and is so much more attractive than the usual high chairs. Also an umbrella stroller, so the kids don’t have to bring one with them when they visit.

Really enjoyed reading your responses today Ellen! Hope you can visit Ireland and Northern Ireland too!
I’m relieved to know you won’t be wearing leggings!! And I would add that women of any age should avoid them!

Wow, you are serious about clean! I’m actually looking forward to the day when I can again get down on my hands and knees to scrub a floor. It’s just not the same with a map. And now that we no longer have dogs (may they RIP), the floors don’t get as dirty as fast. And I agree with you about when you pay for a room it better be clean. I certainly do agree with you on #2, and I too love it that I can poke around in the refrig and put together a meal at almost any given moment – and make everything come out at just the right time, which is at the SAME time. It certainly did take years of practice though. 🙂

I so enjoyed reading your hodgepodge, Ellen. I loved all of the mosaics that you’ve shared…especially the one that is from your trips to the UK. When we were married I knew how to do hot dogs, hamburgers, and spaghetti. 🙂 But I have learned! 🙂

I’ll be curious to know what you end up getting for your own house, baby wise. Your trip pics made me so homesick for England. My very favorite place in the world. I’m excited for you welcoming your granddaughter. We find out if we’ll have a granddaughter or grandson this weekend. Can’t wait!

Because our grandkids need to take a plane to get here we are pretty much fully equipped with baby stuff so our daughter doesn’t need to lug everything with her. We obviously have car seats but one tip I have regarding the travel bed or “playpen” as we used to call it is we went to a foam outlet and had a foam mattress made to fit the crib , the ones that come with it are too skinny for when she’s a toddler and heavier. The foam was inexpensive and met regulations for babies,ie it has to be a particular firmness. High chair is a must, holding kids while they eat is painful,lol.

That’s a great idea about wearing knee pads and an apron while cleaning. Much easier on the knees and good storage with the pockets. Baking bread in cans is clever. I’ve heard about it, but never seen what it looks like when it’s done.

That’s the same with me I love going to the UK and for the same reasons, except the breakfast which I couldn’t eat before lunchtime !! As a future grandma I also had bought plenty of things to stay here so that they don’t have to carry all the baby stuff each time they come, unfortunately it wasn’t appreciated at all, don’t ask me why ! Now he is 6 and all I keep here are toys !

Loved your answers and I wish I had thought of the leggins response.. I mean so few people should even try to get away with them… Being the anglophile I am loving your trip photos… I fully agree with everything you stated makes the trip so wonderful… Our daughter travels to us by plane as well, so I was really glad we still had my old wooden high chair Lynn refurbished from my days for Amanda and all we needed to do was clean it up a bit…we still use the pack and play for second grand and the play station we set up on the floor and she lays on the quilt connected and reaches up to play with the danglies.. I have no idea what its called…
at the used store I bought a nice cushiony changing pad that fits right on top of a chest I have in there for easy changing. and I bought a wall unit above it for all the items… Amanda purchases all of her baby wipes, diapers etc from Amazon and she had one carton of items sent here so we are always prepared. If you have stairs a gate is recommended.Now that the 3 year old is older IM thinking I need a booster seat… and prob a sippy cup or two. Of course age approp toys and books are helpful and outdoor toys as well..I bought a fountain that attaches to the hose for Amanda when she was a toddler and we used it last summer with Birdie and she LOVED it… running around in it on hots days is more fun than having a pool to blow up. The main thing is you want everyone to really have fun when they visit!!